Customer Reviews

A Body to Die For

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Thirty-three-year-old amateur sleuth and crime journalist, Bailey Weggins, is back, and she's up to her old tricks. When Bailey is invited to stay at her friend, Danny's spa, the Cedar Inn and Spa, in Warren, Massachusetts, she jumps at the chance to leave her fast-paced Manhattan lifestyle behind, along with the drama with her on again, off again lover Jack Herlihy, a thirty-five-year-old professor of Psychology. So she packs up her things and heads for the rural Inn, where she plans on getting a little R&R, and a few good massages. However, when she arrives at Cedar Inn, she is shocked to find a mummy-wrapped corpse in one of the many treatment rooms at the spa. Before she knows it, Bailey's vacation/weekend of rest is out the window, and she is fully immersed in solving the case. Soon she is uncovering all types of secrets about Cedar Inn, such as a shady ring of employees, a spurned lover, and a sleazy husband. However, with a totally good-looking cop, Jeffrey Beck, by her side, she knows that everything will work out for the best. Unless the killer comes after her next...

As I was a HUGE fan of Kate White's IF LOOKS COULD KILL, I eagerly awaited the paperback release of A BODY TO DIE FOR. While the wait was long, it was well worth it. Bailey's quirky personality, is one of the most pleasurable things about White's writing, and is a gift to be able to read again. White is magnificent at describing the fast-paced world of journalism, seeing as how she's the Editor-in-Chief of COSMOPOLITAN magazine, and she is amazing at weaving together an amazing story filled with the strangest twists and turns at every corner. Her ideas are remarkable, and will have even the savviest mystery reader stumped by who the murderer is. A must have book, do not miss it.

Erika Sorocco

I read half way through and then gave up, not even enough interested to look at the end to find out whodunit. What turned me off were the non-existent sexual morals of the protagonist.

While I enjoyed "If Looks Could Kill", I also had some problems with it - it definitely felt like a first novel. This book was much better, in my opinion. I cared much more about Bailey this time out, the fashion descriptions were not as evident (therefore making the book more readable in future without getting distracted by clothes descriptions), the twists were not as obvious.

There are still a few problems - if you, like me, are from a small town, you could be offended by the seeming characterization of all "locals" outside of NYC as being hicks and/or stupid. While the twists weren't as obvious, a dedicated mystery reader won't be all that surprised by them.

Still, the story was fast-paced and easy to read. Like the first, it's not great literature, but it's fun - and, to me, was a better effort all-around. If you haven't read the first, and don't mind skipping a book in a semi-series, skip it and read this one. There aren't any spoilers and you don't need the first to understand this one. If you (like me, I admit) prefer to read books in order, don't give up after the first, and read this one, too. It's really much better.

I agree with previous reviews : this is a good book to take to the beach. It is not great litterature but it's entertaining. It's fast-paced and you get hooked early on. I must say, I figured the "who-done-it" quickly but still enjoyed the "why-she/he-did-it".

So, if you're looking for a good book to pack along in your suitcase, grab this one!

A Body to Die For is, quite simply, great fun. I had been reading some heavier books, and put them aside to read this. I was a fan of If Looks Could Kill and was hoping that this book would fulfill the promise that White had shown in her first novel. She does. I, for opne, was glad to see Bailey taken out of New York and put in a New England setting ... we know this was only temporary for Bailey is a real New Yorker. White is very good at introducing multiple characters and red herrings and she really keeps you guessing until the end. The most refreshing thing about this book is how everybody at this spa seems to have a secret and nobody is squeaky clean. This book is a fun read, and White's prose is intelligent and cleverly written so you don't have to worry about mediocre writing. A great read while curled up in your chair.

This is a book written by a truly professional writer. She wastes no time introducing her sleuth, Bailey Weggins, and her plot, murder at an elegant spa in rural Massachusetts. The sleuth is a sharp-tongued and witty magazine writer - one of the more interesting and provocative female sleuths to come down the pike in a long time.

The plot and sub-plots are complex, unusual and well thought out. The characters, from the slightly shady husband to the murdered staff member who offered just a little extra to some of her massage clients, were totally believable. If I was to offer a suggestion it would be that more of the characters be developed more fully.

The dialogue is sharp and edgy and the conflict, both internal and external, is well maintained throughout. The pacing is crisp, working to a surprising and satisfying climax.

The writer really has a handle on all the aspects of writing detective fiction. It's a treat to read a who-dun-it and not have to cringe at an overdone setting or a poorly thought out plot. She has put together a great read. She's a professional, and it shows.

I enjoyed this book, though not half as much as I enjoy writers Marcia Muller and Sue Grafton. Bailey Weggins is a likeable character, though, and it was a fun summer read. I liked that the characters were complicated people. There were times when I couldn't put the book down. Until the ending, that is. While I won't give it away, the ending was a huge disappointment. The motive and the murderer were totally not believable.

The worst part about reading a surprisingly great book (If Looks Could Kill) is being let down by a far lesser follow up. Everything I loved about Kate White's first book seems to be sadly missing from this dull edged, half hearted mystery. It's hard to believe it was even written by the same person. When I heard it was about a murder in a spa, I had frightening flashbacks to the countless 80's and 90's books about this very tired subject. But I trusted the fun main character Bailey to carry it through.

Only it seems Bailey had been replaced with a stereotypical man-bashing, self-questioning drone of a female so beautifully portrayed in countless light beer commercials. As far as the plot, it's alright (not great not bad), but the novel is set in BFE without the benefit of the energy and excitement of Manhattan. And even though some characters like Cat Jones from the last novel were a little over the top, at least they were interesting (where as in this book, the characters were as compelling as leftover cappucino. In fact, I was actually hoping they would be put out of their misery.)

I think that just about covers it.

Popular stage, television and film actress Kate Walsh has numerous roles to her credit. Perhaps best remembered for portraying Drew Carey's girlfriend on The Drew Carey show, she is also recognized for appearances on TV's Norm and Law and Order. This wealth of experience is brought to her articulate reading of Kate White's latest action packed adventure.

Protagonist Bailey Weggins, a crime reporter for a high end magazine, returns to super sleuth again. When a friend invites her to enjoy a gratis few days at a posh spa in Massachusetts Bailey can't get there fast enough. She's ready to be pampered, pedicured, and polished.

Amenities vanish when she discovers a corpse trussed like a mummy in a treatment room. What kind of treatment is this? And, who administered it - a tossed aside lover, double-dealing ex, a number of other assorted characters?

If you know Bailey, you know there's romance mixed with murder - this time in the form of a good looking detective looking into the slaying. However, there's not much time for moonlight and roses as Bailey tracks down leads only to find herself a target.

Another yarn both suspenseful and sensual from Kate White.

Popular stage, television and film actress Kate Walsh has numerous roles to her credit. Perhaps best remembered for portraying Drew Carey's girlfriend on The Drew Carey show, she is also recognized for appearances on TV's Norm and Law and Order. This wealth of experience is brought to her articulate reading of Kate White's latest action packed adventure.

Protagonist Bailey Weggins, a crime reporter for a high end magazine, returns to super sleuth again. When a friend invites her to enjoy a gratis few days at a posh spa in Massachusetts Bailey can't get there fast enough. She's ready to be pampered, pedicured, and polished.

Amenities vanish when she discovers a corpse trussed like a mummy in a treatment room. What kind of treatment is this? And, who administered it - a tossed aside lover, double-dealing ex, a number of other assorted characters?

If you know Bailey, you know there's romance mixed with murder - this time in the form of a good looking detective looking into the slaying. However, there's not much time for moonlight and roses as Bailey tracks down leads only to find herself a target.

Another yarn both suspenseful and sensual from Kate White.

- Gail Cooke